The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Iii Part 33

[Pageheading: MISGOVERNMENT AT NAPLES]

[Pageheading: CO-OPERATION OF THE POWERS]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

OSBORNE, _3rd September 1855_.

The Queen has read the enclosed papers, and must express her strongest objection to a Naval Demonstration (which to be effectual must be prepared to pa.s.s on to measures of hostility), in order to obtain changes in the _internal system of Government_ of the Kingdom of Naples.[75] England would thereby undertake a responsibility which she is in no way capable of bearing, unless she took the Government permanently into her own hands. The plea on which the interference is to be based, viz. that the misgovernment at Naples brings Monarchical inst.i.tutions into disrepute, and might place weapons in the hands of the democracy (as put forth by Sir W. Temple),[76] would be wholly _insufficient_ to justify the proceeding. Whether such an armed interference in favour of the people of Naples against their Government would lead to a Revolution or not, as apprehended by the French Government and disbelieved by Lord Palmerston, must be so entirely a matter of chance that it would be idle to predict the exact consequences. If 99 out of every 100 Neapolitans, however, are dissatisfied with their Government (as Lord Palmerston states), it is not unreasonable to expect that our demonstration may give them confidence enough to rise, and if beat down by the King's troops in presence of our ships, our position would become exceedingly humiliating.

Any insult offered to the British Government, on the other hand, it has a perfect right to resent, and to ask reparation for. The case, however, is a very unpleasant one. The Neapolitan Government deny having intended any slight on the British Legation by the order respecting the Box of the "Intendant du Theatre," which they state to have been general, and deny any intention to interfere with the free intercourse of the members of our Legation with Neapolitans, to which Sir W. Temple merely replies that notwithstanding the denial such an intention is believed by the public to exist.

The case becomes therefore a very delicate one, requiring the greatest care on our part not to put ourselves in the wrong.

It will be of the greatest importance to come to a thorough understanding with France, and if possible also with Austria, on the subject.

[Footnote 75: Lord Palmerston had suggested co-operation by England and France in obtaining the dismissal of the Neapolitan Minister of Police as an _amende_ for an affront offered to this country, to be enforced by a naval demonstration, coupled with a demand for the liberation of political prisoners.]

[Footnote 76: The Hon. Sir William Temple, K.C.B. [_d._ 1856], only brother of Lord Palmerston, Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Naples.]

_Lord Panmure to Earl Granville._[77]

[_Telegram._]

_10th September 1855._

Telegram from General Simpson, dated Crimea, nine September, one eight five five, ten nine A.M. "Sebastopol is in the possession of the Allies. The enemy during the night and this morning have evacuated the south side after exploding their Magazines and setting fire to the whole of the Town. All the men-of-war were burnt during the night with the exception of three Steamers, which are plying about the Harbour.

The Bridge communicating with the North side is broken."

War Department, tenth September, one eight five five, four forty-five P.M....

[Footnote 77: Minister in attendance at Balmoral. The Queen and Prince occupied their new home for the first time on the 7th of September; it was not yet completed, but, the Queen wrote, "the house is charming, the rooms delightful, the furniture, papers, everything, perfection."]

[Pageheading: FALL OF SEBASTOPOL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BALMORAL CASTLE, _11th September 1855_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--The great event has at length taken place--_Sebastopol has fallen!_ We received the news here last night when we were sitting quietly round our table after dinner. We did what we could to celebrate it; but that was but little, for to my grief we have not _one_ soldier, no band, nothing here to make any sort of demonstration. What we did do was in Highland fashion to light a _bonfire_ on the top of a hill opposite the house, which had been built last year when the premature news of the fall of Sebastopol deceived every one, and which we had to leave _unlit_, and found here on our return!

On Sat.u.r.day evening we heard of one Russian vessel having been destroyed, on Sunday morning of the destruction of another, yesterday morning of the fall of the Malakhoff Tower--and _then_ of _Sebastopol!_ We were not successful against the Redan on the 8th, and I fear our loss was considerable. Still the _daily_ loss in the trenches was becoming so serious that no loss in achieving such a result is to be compared to that. This event will delight my brother and faithful ally--and _friend_, Napoleon III.--I may add, for we really are _great friends_; this attempt,[78] though that of a madman, is very distressing and makes one _tremble_....

We expect the young Prince Fritz Wilhelm[79] of Prussia on a little visit here on Friday.

I must now conclude. With Albert's love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 78: As he was about to enter the Opera House on the evening of the 7th, the Emperor was fired at without effect by one Bellegarde, who had been previously convicted of fraud, on which occasion his punishment had been mitigated by the Emperor's clemency; he was now sentenced to two years'

imprisonment.]

[Footnote 79: Only son of the Prince of Prussia, and afterwards the Emperor Frederick.]

[Pageheading: THE MALAKHOFF]

_Lord Panmure to General Simpson._

[_Telegram._]

_12th September 1855._

The Queen has received, with deep emotion, the welcome intelligence of the fall of Sebastopol.

Penetrated with profound grat.i.tude to the Almighty, who has vouchsafed this triumph to the Allied Armies, Her Majesty has commanded me to express to yourself, and through you to the Army, the pride with which she regards this fresh instance of its heroism.

The Queen congratulates her Troops on the triumphant issue of this protracted siege, and thanks them for the cheerfulness and fort.i.tude with which they have encountered its toils, and the valour which has led to its termination.

The Queen deeply laments that this success in not without its alloy in the heavy losses which have been sustained; and while she rejoices in the victory, Her Majesty deeply sympathises with the n.o.ble sufferers in their country's cause.

You will be pleased to congratulate General Pelissier in Her Majesty's name upon the brilliant result of the a.s.sault on the Malakhoff, which proves the irresistible force as well as indomitable courage of her brave Allies.

_Queen Victoria to General Simpson._

BALMORAL, _14th September 1855_.

With a heart full of grat.i.tude and pride, as well as of sorrow for the many valuable lives that have been lost, the Queen writes to General Simpson to congratulate him, as well on her own part as on that of the Prince, on the glorious news of the _Fall of Sebastopol!_ General Simpson must indeed _feel proud_ to have commanded the Queen's n.o.ble Army on _such_ an occasion.

She wishes him to express to that gallant Army her high sense of their gallantry, and her joy and satisfaction at their labours, anxieties, and cruel sufferings, for nearly a year, having _at length_ been crowned with such success.

To General Pelissier[80] also, and his gallant Army, whom the Queen ever unites in her thoughts and wishes with her own beloved troops, she would wish General Simpson to convey the expression of her personal warm congratulations, as well as of her sympathy for their losses.

The Queen intends to mark her sense of General Simpson's services by conferring upon him the Grand Cross of the Bath.